CO129-434 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [7-8] — Page 17

י

➜ CONFIDENTIAL.

V

Jo

15

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG.

6th July, 1916.

closures toy.

Sir,

With reference to my Confidential despatch of

the 8th of May, I have the honour to transmit for your inform- -ation the enclosed copy of correspondence with His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Canton on the subject of a recent derailment of the Kowloon-Canton express train.

2.

The general political situation in the Kwangtung

Province to which I referred in my Confidential despatches

of the 31st of May and 2nd ultimo, has now become extremely

critical owing to the advance of Sham Teen-huen to Sam hui,

22770 32775

Endlosure 5.

an important strategical point on the West River connected

with Canton by railway; and to the seizure of the town of

Shiu Kwan on the North River by one of his generals named

Li Lit-kwan.

The latter has seized the Canton-Hankow rail-

-way between Shiu Kwan and Pa Kong-hau where he lies with a

considerable force, while Lung Chai-kwong, the Military

Governor of Canton, holds the railway South of Yun Tam a

station 6 miles south of Pa Kong-hau. I attach an interest- -ing report by Mr. A. E. Wood, a Cadet officer of this Govern- -ment, who being in Canton on West River flood relief business

Has

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW, M.P.,

30..

&c.,

&c...